Yay thank you all for the wonderful reviews yet again. So here it is Chapter 12 hope you all enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: darnation do I have to so this? Its not mine I tell you. I do not own POTO. sheesh!

CHRIS' POV

When I woke up that the next day I turned around to see Erik with his arms wrapped around my waist and his head pressed into my hair.

"What is it with you and your obsession with my hair? Jesus, what is it with all men and my hair?" I whispered to myself.

"Mmmm don't move I was comfortable. And the answer to your question is it smells like strawberries and raspberries. If you ever cut it I'll be forced to Punjab you as well Mlle." He mumbled quietly pulling me back down to cuddle closer to me under the blankets.

I laughed at this because I had heard the same line over and over again from everyone who ever knew me. I never really knew how or why it smelled that way. I didn't use any special shampoo of any sort.

I turned around so that I was facing him and buried my head into his chest. I smiled at how he always seemed to smell like soap. And the good kind to, I had to admit.

"What time is it?" I asked him.

"It is probably around 6:30 in the morning. Now shush and go back to sleep or I will have to do somethingtoyou thatyou will not appreciate."

At this I backed up and looked at him. His eyes were still closed.

"And what pray tell would that be?" I asked with an eyebrow crooked up.

"THIS!" he yelled pulling me towards him and adjusting himself on top while he tickled me mercilessly.

"I'l never say it.." I tried to say in-between my fits of laughter and struggling. Knowing that I would never beg him to stop.

"You and your stubborness." He said still tickling me and laughing, I loved it when he laughed. It was a rare sight and a beautiful one at that.

After a few minutes he finally stopped and rolled over pulling me back towards him and wrapping his arms around my waist. I was still breathing hard from the strain of laughing. I looked down at the hands around my waist and grabbed hold of one. He intertwined his fingers with mine and squeezed affectionately. I felt so safe and warm right there. I knew I loved him but part of me was holding back and I was afraid to tell him how I really felt. Afraid that he would shy away from me, or that he wouldn't feel the same. That, to him, I was just a girl to dull the pain of loneliness.

Eventually he fell asleep and I got up. It was one of those days were I couldn't really sleep in the way I wanted to.

After I got dressed in some slacks, Dockers,a T, and my trademark suit jacket, gloves and wristbands I sat down at the table finding a parchment and quill.

Erik:

I needed some air so I'll be on the roof. I'll be down in an hour or two. Why don't you make us some breakfast.

Love,

Christina

When I was done I set it next to his head and grabbed my MP3 player. I decided to take the way through the mirror so I took the gondola and started to drift away towards the stairwell. Forgetting about the gate behind me.

An hour later the sun had risen,and I was on the roof sitting on the statue Erik had when Christine had broke his heart. I was looking down at theautumn city and thinking how lovely it was here with all the leaves in their bright orange and red colors, But how stuffy as well. Growing up I always new that I wanted to live in the country. Somewhere in southern France or Spain where it was warm all year round. Today was notone of those days where the sun shown through the clouds while it was still raining.Instead it was cold, wet and the grass in the square was a brown green. These were my leastfavorite days.

I was about to go back inside whensuddenly the song 'Come What May' came on from Moulin Rouge. Moulin Rouge had always been one of my favorite stories so I got up and started to dance to the music. Singing along when Satine's partwhen it came timeto sing. Hoping that it would keep me warm. Because right now was one of those moments where the whether didnt matter. I just needed to breath.

ERIK'S POV

I woke up to see that Chris had left and that there was a note on my bed where she had been lying an hour before. I smiled realizing that I could get used to waking up with her by my side every day. I loved waking up to her next to me. Looking around I found that it was hard to believe that it had been a whole month since Looking back I would never had expected to fall in love with her. Of course I hadn't heard her speak.

I laughed at that memory of her shuffling around my lair yelling like a banshee. I had never met someone with such fireand spiritbefore. She was so different than the women of this century. I rather liked it that way. I knew being with her I would never be bored.

I read the note and laughed to myself. Every note she ever wrote always carried an air of command. It was one of those endearing things about her.

I looked down at the small beast that was also lying on the bed. No child from this century would have cuddled with the small stuffed animal. Knowing that Christina had, only made me fall even more in love with her. I smiled and picked it up.

"Well my friend it looks as if we are competition for each other." I laughed to myself afterwards.

Yesterday when Chris had said, 'that it didn't matter so much as what was on the outside as the inside' my heart had skipped a beat. And later when we cuddled into bed together she had told me that I was still the sexiest man she had ever met. I laughed at her futuristic slang. Ever since she had come into my life, I had noticed I laughed more often.

I found myself rather liking that. I had never really laughed before or been so happy. I didn't think I was able to feel this happy.

I got up and started to get dressed and when I was done, I walked to the door where I stored my supplies.

It had shelves of food and wine to last for a lifetime. But I felt that Chris shouldn't have to always live off bread and water. I looked around till I found some eggs and cranberry juice. I decided that I would make scrambled eggs for today knowing it was her favorite. I would have gotten out the wine but Chris said that she wasn't one for alcoholic beverages; she never had acquired a taste for it.

SuddenlyI got a gut wrenching feeling. What would happen if Christina found a way back to her time? Would she want to leave?I knew that she had hated it there and that all she loved was gone, but why would she want to stay here? I had a feeling that she didn't think she exactly felt like she belonged here.

No you will not think like that! You will NOT THINK LIKE THAT!

CHRIS' POV

I was still dancing when I heard a door open below. Or thought I did. I looked down over the balcony and didn't see anybody so quickly forgot about it and continued to dance to the music blaring in my ears. (Actually it looked more like bouncing around and twirling spastically) After another hour I looked down at my watch and saw that it was already 8 o'clock. I felt like now was as good a time as ever to leave and took the door out to the spiral staircase and to the backstage. On my way down I couldn't help suppress the glee that emanated from my body at the thought that I was on the staircase where all the trouble had begun for Erik.

"Stupid Fop, Stupid Christine. Well then again… yay for Christine cause then I never would have met Erik. Or would I still have? Oh great I'm talking to myself again. You really need to stop. Stop talking to yourself."

By now I was on the catwalk leading to the passageway that led to Erik's kitchen or storage room thing. I laughed at the thought of knowing I had been able to keep a conversation going with myself for so long. I felt kind of stupid too.

Still that same thought kept echoing in my mind. What would have happened if Christine had never left Erik, and if I had never gone to the lake with the intentions that I had. And then the thought that I had been able to not think of since that night echoed too. Will you go back if you find a way?

"No I wont I wont because there is nothing for me there"

But what is there for you here as well? Came that voice again.

"Uhhh just SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP! ERIK IS YOU STUPID NINNY!" I told my self when I opened the passageway and started to walk back to the batcave.

ERIK'S POV

I had been able to prepare an entire meal for Christina and I, amazingly enough. Searching through my storage of many trinkets and items I had been able to find a skillet and heat the eggs up over the fire. I looked down at the table with an expression of satisfaction.I had been able to set it for two with both of them sitting across from each other. The plates had the food on them and there were to candles on the table to set for the mood. I had set a blood red rose on the chair for Christina knowing she would love it. Looking at it for a second time I moved the plate so they were next to each other on one side of the table.

"There that is much better." I said looking at it. But then I shok my head again and moved them even closer. Then I shook my head, thinkg, 'there thats better. Now I need to get the Ketchup out for Chris's eggs. I luaghed at how well I had gotten to knw her over the weeks. And then a startling thought came into my head.

It is just breakfast... does not it seem a bit too much for a midmorning meal. Maybe you should save the candles for Evening.

I pushed back the thought quickly. Not knowing why for some reason I had a feeling that we wouldn't be having an evening meal.

Just then I heard the gondola as it came floating down the lake's current towards the gate. I turned to notice that it had not been closed after Christina left. And then my eyes widened in surprise.

"Hello Chris---

mu wa ha ha ha ha ha! Arnt I evil. Who could it possibly bee. Could it bee Christina. I'm not telling(sing song voice) You will just have to read on and find out wont you.

AIM EriannaAbyss (please IM me if you have any questions, comments, conscerns, or just need a friend and am bored. Cause I usually am half the time)